ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrades to Challenge SpaceX

Published 1 days agoLMT

ULA Plans Vulcan Rocket Upgrades to Challenge SpaceX

United Launch Alliance (ULA), the joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, is gearing up to make significant upgrades to its Vulcan rocket, aiming to better compete with SpaceX's Starship in the competitive low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite launch market. As part of its strategy, ULA is contemplating a new 'Vulcan Heavy' configuration, which would see the integration of three core boosters to enhance payload capacity, according to Reuters.

In addition to the Vulcan Heavy variant, ULA is exploring innovative propulsion designs that involve placing propulsion systems in unconventional locations to optimize performance. With these updates, ULA is targeting to have the upgraded Vulcan rocket ready by the time SpaceX's Starship becomes commercially viable for large-scale LEO satellite operations, which is anticipated to be some years from now. This initiative reflects ULA's response to SpaceX's increasing influence in the LEO market, particularly with its Starlink project.

Currently, ULA has successfully achieved two launches with the Vulcan rocket, with more missions in the pipeline aimed at further development and certification of the vehicle. By pursuing these upgrades and new configurations, ULA is clearly showcasing its dedication to reinforcing its position in the rapidly evolving space industry, underscoring its commitment to remain a key player alongside major competitors like SpaceX.

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